Danzo waved his hand, signaling the others to leave.
Hei quickly led away the new recruits and the children, leaving only four people in the training hall: Danzo, Tsunade, Ki, and Shizune.
Tsunade glanced at Ki: "Get lost!"
Ki's hand tightly gripped Shizune's small shoulder.
In the next instant, Tsunade's fist suddenly appeared before Ki's eyes.
Fortunately, Lord Danzo's hand caught Tsunade's wrist in time.
Tsunade was startled; she hadn't expected Danzo's strength to be so high.
Danzo truly lived up to being the Darkness of the Shinobi; his strength was even higher than Tsunade had imagined.
"Ki, you leave too."
Ki promptly released Shizune and disappeared into the darkness.
Tsunade, holding Shizune, jumped back a large step.
Danzo said: "Tsunade, you understand the power of the Spirit Transformation Technique. The Spirit Transformation Technique can control enemies remotely, create chaos, allowing one person to manipulate an entire enemy battalion. The legacy of the Spirit Transformation Technique cannot be broken; Konoha cannot be without it. Shizune, as Kato Dan's niece, should undergo secret technique training from childhood, using various mental stimuli to strengthen her spiritual energy and master the Spirit Transformation Technique as soon as possible. Everything I do is for the village, for Konoha. The Scroll of Seals left to the village by the Second Hokage-sensei contains the Spirit Transformation Technique. What is lacking now is a ninja suitable for the Spirit Transformation Technique!"
Tsunade said: "Whether Shizune can master the Spirit Transformation Technique is my business, what does it have to do with you?"
"Tsunade!" Danzo raised his tone: "Don't think everyone will indulge you! Konoha needs the Spirit Transformation Technique; that is the reason I am training Shizune! However..."
Danzo's tone changed, saying: "Out of respect for Hiruzen Sarutobi, I am willing to compromise. As long as you give me one technique, I will let you take Shizune."
Tsunade asked: "What technique?"
"The sealing technique recorded by the Second Hokage in his notes, the one most suitable for the Anbu: the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal." Danzo stared at Tsunade: "Tsunade, either leave Shizune here to preserve the Spirit Transformation Technique for the Anbu, or leave the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal to strengthen the Anbu for the village. I am not Hiruzen Sarutobi; I have no time to play the game of rebellious student and soft-hearted teacher with you."
Shizune fearfully pressed against Tsunade's leg.
Last night, Tsunade went to see Shizune and found her gone.
After many inquiries, she learned from Orochimaru that Danzo had taken Shizune.
Charging into Root in a fit of anger was proving difficult to resolve.
There was no exit mechanism for Root ninja.
Leaving Root meant refusing to fight for Konoha, meaning betraying Konoha.
If it were before Shizune was taken, Tsunade had many methods, but now, she could only grit her teeth and continue the confrontation.
"Hmph, stop saying the village can't be without the Spirit Transformation Technique. You just want the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal, resorting to these despicable methods when you can't get it."
Just as Tsunade prepared to take Shizune and leave directly, three figures instantly appeared.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane.
The three elders, having detected someone daring to attack Root, had instantly arrived.
Upon seeing it was Tsunade, they were not surprised.
Hiruzen Sarutobi knew Danzo's objective. He thought about it; without Root, many covert missions couldn't be carried out.
Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at Shizune and said, "Tsunade, how could you attack Root, an important institution of the village?"
Homura Mitokado said: "If you take away your person, and other clan heads also take away their people, how will the Anbu and Root operate? Without a mature Anbu and Root, how can we assassinate sensitive targets?"
Koharu Utatane said: "Tsunade, focus on handling the Konoha Hospital matters, do not interfere with the Anbu and Root!"
Tsunade thought to herself that it seemed this couldn't be resolved amicably.
Strengthening Root served the interests of all the elders.
It wasn't just Danzo who wanted to strengthen Root, but all the elders wanted to strengthen Root.
Hiruzen Sarutobi governed such a large Konoha village; he couldn't always reason with everything, could he?
Ninja wielded force, all their talents were invested in killing. When encountering disobedient subordinates, one couldn't always patiently persuade them, right?
Physical force was also a form of reason, and the most effective one at that.
The kunai was also a form of 'nothingness'; any problem became insignificant before a kunai.
The kunai couldn't solve the problem, but it could solve the person who raised the problem.
Danzo was to Hiruzen Sarutobi what Second Grandfather Tobirama was to Grandfather Hashirama, what the Tobirama of the night was to the Tobirama of the day.
There were always difficult tasks that those in the public eye couldn't handle, requiring those in the shadows to act.
Without Danzo, Homura Mitokado might transform into a Danzo.
If Homura Mitokado died, perhaps Koharu Utatane would have to step up and take over Danzo's dirty work.
Konoha could not be without someone to do the dirty work.
Tsunade saw it clearly now. She wasn't opposing Danzo or Root, but rather all the elders of Konoha, opposing Konoha's current order.
She complained in her heart again: Second Grandfather's many policies have truly left endless troubles.
Tsunade would not yield: "Don't interfere with Root? Shizune was taken by Root, and I should just ignore it?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi said: "Everyone has the obligation to join the Anbu and carry out missions in the darkness for the village. This is the rule set by the Second Hokage, Sensei Tobirama! Does the Senju clan and its affiliates have the privilege to refuse? Among these four-year-old children, there are children from the Sarutobi, Nara, Yamanaka, and other clans, as well as many orphans. Can everyone come to the Anbu, smash the roof, and take people away just like that?"
Tsunade was taken aback; how had it become her being unreasonable?
Just as the two sides were deadlocked, a figure emerged from the darkness.
The others turned to look at the tall, slender figure.
The person who dared to walk slowly into such a tense atmosphere, with such a sharp conflict among the elders, was Orochimaru, busy from the Root laboratory.
Orochimaru looked at the situation in the room, thinking to himself that Tsunade, this reckless woman, had been set up by the village elders again.
Tsunade's strength had just reached Kage-level; she was no match for Teacher Hiruzen and Danzo, so why push it to this point?
"You're disturbing my experiments," Orochimaru said: "Why not let me act as a mediator. Tsunade, you take Kato Dan's niece, but give the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal to me. I will supervise the use of the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal, ensuring it is never used on the Senju clan, or anyone else Tsunade values. How about that?"
Tsunade hesitated.
Orochimaru had given her a way out.
Since last night, she had been anxiously searching everywhere for Shizune, and it was Orochimaru who told her that Shizune had been taken by Danzo.
Orochimaru was her important ally in the village; as long as Orochimaru supported her, the village elders couldn't do anything to her.
Just like in the Jonin Commander meeting votes, as long as Orochimaru stood up, whether it was the elders or other jonin, they all had to shut up.
Hiruzen Sarutobi saw Tsunade falling into hesitation, feeling bitter in his heart. No matter what he said, Tsunade wouldn't listen, but when Orochimaru acted as the mediator, Tsunade calmed down.
Subsequently, Tsunade formed hand seals and summoned a large scroll.
The large scroll bore the symbol of the Uzumaki clan, the same spiral pattern found on the back of the flak jacket.
Danzo's eyes lit up; this was the Uzumaki clan's Scroll of Seals.
If he had this Scroll of Seals, his strength would advance further.
Tsunade copied down the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal and threw it to Orochimaru.
"I've given you the technique. You can no longer interfere with Shizune or the Spirit Transformation Technique."
Orochimaru looked down and scanned the sealing technique. How had he become the only beneficiary? It seemed as if he had arranged it on purpose, heh.
Orochimaru said, "Hmm, correct, it is indeed a cursed seal engraved on the brain, the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal."
Tsunade, holding Shizune, jumped out through the large hole in the training ground.
When Yōkō and Golden Eagle arrived, they saw Tsunade leaving with a young girl.
Orochimaru was handing a scroll to Danzo.
Orochimaru said: "Advisor Danzo, do not make me break my promise in front of Tsunade. There are many ways to ensure subordinates' loyalty; using seals is undoubtedly the worst kind. Just like the Hyūga clan's Caged Bird Seal, despite possessing such a powerful Kekkei Genkai as the Byakugan, they have raised half a clan of waste."
Danzo didn't mind and took the scroll.
He pulled forcefully on the scroll but found Orochimaru had no intention of letting go.
Danzo had no choice but to say: "I will not conscript Senju clan ninja into the Anbu, you can rest assured."
Only then did Orochimaru release the scroll.
Golden Eagle muttered beside Yōkō: "Why? How many people from the Hyūga clan have sacrificed in Root and the Anbu? Why does the Senju clan have privileges? And the Uchiha clan, why don't they have to send people into the Anbu?"
From the Senju clan's perspective, Tsunade seemed to have suffered a great loss.
From the perspective of Konoha's other clans or civilian ninja, Tsunade enjoyed privileges others wouldn't dare dream of.
From the perspective of every captured child, everyone in Konoha deserved to die.
The matter of fairness has always been 'relative'.
Yōkō felt uneasy; had Danzo obtained an important technique from Tsunade?
The Root recruits emerged from the darkness again, looking up at the large hole.
The large hole left by Tsunade let in bright light.
The light could not dispel the darkness.
The recruits trained by Root had no future left.
The four Konoha elders glanced at each other and then left separately.
Late at night, Tsunade finished her work at the Konoha Hospital and closed her office door.
She suddenly turned her head, looking to the side.
From the adjacent restroom, a person in a hooded robe emerged.
Who had infiltrated so close to her?
Seeing that mask, Tsunade recognized the visitor: The Anbu's Fox?
"Lady Tsunade, what technique did you use to exchange for Shizune?"
Tsunade said: "Who do you represent by asking me? Can't the Third Hokage ask Danzo himself?"
Yōkō was reluctant to expose his identity in front of Tsunade, but this matter concerned the strength of Danzo, so he had to do something now.
He had just used the Byakugan to observe; no reconnaissance ninja were targeting this area.
"My apologies, Lady Tsunade, Lord Yellow Dog needs this information!"
Yōkō charged fiercely at Tsunade.
Tsunade was surprised that Fox would attack her and threw a punch at Fox.
However, as the two closed in, cursed seals suddenly appeared on the ground.
Self-Cursing Body Binding Seal?
Tsunade had heard the Anbu had obtained many Uzumaki clan corpses, thus acquiring some sealing techniques.
Tsunade's movements paused.
Such powerful sealing chakra!
Was Fox's talent for sealing techniques so high?
Kushina once said she nearly lost control at the Ninja Academy, and it was an Anbu wearing a fox mask who sealed the leaking Nine-Tails chakra.
Fox's speed suddenly increased.
In the next instant, Fox's five fingers pressed against Tsunade's abdomen.
Five Elements Seal!
Just as Yōkō thought Tsunade's reputation was overrated and she was somewhat weak, the diamond mark on Tsunade's forehead instantly brightened, and Yin Seal chakra erupted.
Both the Self-Cursing Body Binding Seal and the Five Elements Seal were instantly broken through by the powerful chakra.
Yōkō retreated to the side.
Tsunade had actually already mastered the Yin Seal, stepping over the threshold to become a Kage-level ninja.
A look of great astonishment appeared on Tsunade's face.
Her hands even trembled slightly.
The Self-Cursing Body Binding Seal was one thing, but the Five Elements Seal just now... that chakra?
Absolutely no mistake, it was the chakra unique to the Uzumaki clan!
The effect of the Five Elements Seal in the hands of an ordinary ninja was completely different from that in the hands of an Uzumaki clansman.
Tsunade could master the Yin Seal because her grandmother and mother were both from the Uzumaki clan.
Uzumaki chakra naturally possessed sealing abilities; sealing techniques were a level stronger in the hands of the Uzumaki clan than in others.
Tsunade suddenly recalled an important piece of intelligence.
On the night of the Nine-Tails' transfer and Yin Seal application, Kushina said someone had infused her with chakra at the critical moment.
That chakra was unmistakably Uzumaki clan chakra, with extremely strong sealing capabilities.
It was that chakra that helped Kushina twice.
Otherwise, Kushina's condition would have been worse, the Nine-Tails' rampage would have killed more Senju clansmen.
At the most critical moment of the Nine-Tails' transfer, her father Senju Rinoki and mother both died, and Kushina was surrounded by Anbu.
"Who are you?!"
"I am Fox."
Tsunade's agitated expression quickly faded.
Fox was a Konoha Anbu; his identity must remain hidden.
But he possessed strong Uzumaki bloodline, meaning he was very likely a Senju clansman, closely related to the Senju and Uzumaki clans.
That was why he would have risked himself twice to help Kushina at the most critical moment of the Nine-Tails' transfer and Yin Seal application.
"Lady Tsunade, what technique did you use to exchange for Shizune?"
Tsunade first checked her surroundings, sensing no suspicious personnel, and quickly said: "The Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal."
"Do not investigate me. I will help the clan again at the appropriate time."
Yōkō spoke ambiguously, pretending to be a Senju clansman, then instantly disappeared.
Run!
If he didn't run now, he would be exposed; Tsunade wasn't easy to fool.
Tsunade's expression fell. She very much wanted to say something to Fox, but knew Fox feared exposure and couldn't stay long.
Hurrying back to the clan compound, Tsunade entered Aunt Hanaki's courtyard.
"Aunt Hanaki, did Father have any secret arrangements before his death?"
Senju Hanaki asked, puzzled: "Secret arrangements? What secret arrangements?"
Tsunade said: "For example, placing spies in the Anbu?"
Senju Hanaki shook her head: "I don't know. Before my brother's death, I never thought about managing the clan; I didn't know the clan's secrets. If your father had any arrangements, he wouldn't have told me, who I was back then."
Tsunade didn't get an answer, but she had a premonition in her heart that Fox was absolutely not simple.
Other things could be imitated, sealing techniques could be practiced diligently, but the innate sealing attributes in one's chakra couldn't be faked.
She felt some regret; the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal seemed to greatly affect Fox, making him risk exposure to question her. Had she made a mistake?
Late at night, Yōkō summoned the Stone Panda Hakuji.
"Hakuji, take this scroll to Yuka."
Hakuji nodded and disappeared via reverse summoning.
Uzumaki Yuka, seeing the contents of the scroll, gathered Uzumaki Kaichō and Uzumaki Genchō.
"Let's go! Fox has sent a new message. We are to go to the Kusagakure Capital and investigate intelligence on the Shimura clan's Guardian Ninja. The Kusagakure Capital has always followed the pasture migrations; it has no fixed location. Shimura Danzo's forces seem to be bottoming out and rebounding. Fox says we need to increase the pressure."
***
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(Chapter End)